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Sloppy Joe For Dinner
The Men's Dinner Club at the Carolina Arbors 55+ Adult Community is the setting for the murder of a new member. Detective Vinder is puzzled by the club's rules and the identity of the victim. Tracking the last twenty years of the murdered person proves near impossible.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 7, 2020
‘I’m afraid we have another murder here’
North Carolina author Hugo Uyttenhove earned his PhD in System Science from Binghamton University. He obviously loves art and history and holds a particular passion for Flemish and Dutch paintings. His novels to date are GRAND LARCENY: THE HEIST OF THE FLEMISH PRIMITIVES, REMBRANDT REDUX: Tom Arden Book 1 (both of which have become screenplays), THE DA VINCI CLOTH (Tom Arden Book 2), MUD CAKE FOR BREAKFAST, Book 1 of A Carolina Arbors Murder Series, NO TACOS FOR LUNCH Book 2 of that series, and now Book 3 - SLOPPY JOE FOR DINNER.
This time ‘round Hugo offers his talent along with ‘the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths, and he informs us of this decision in a brief Note that opens the book: ’This book is the third collaboration between members of the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths Book Club (T.A. Sleuths) at Carolina Arbors, a Del Webb Community in Durham, North Carolina. Having read thousands of murder mystery books combined, members undertake another effort in contributing to another book in The Carolina Arbors Murder Mystery series. Again, the story takes place in their community and provides authenticity of the environment. They introduce characters who may or may not be witnesses to the crime at hand. Story development and sewing all the parts together are the tasks of the principal author. It is up to Detective T.A. Vinder to solve the case, assisted by Officer Ramón Acosta of the Durham Police Department. As usual, the amateur sleuths of the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths Book Clun participate in resolving any unanswered questions.’
The unique approach to writing works very well indeed. The manner in which Hugo interplays with the other ‘authors’ is contagiously entertaining and the quality of writing, though varying from input to input, is surprisingly strong. This makes us wonder about the background of these nascent authors!
A bit excerpt whets the imagination: ‘Travis figured that processing thirty people in about an hour had been a record. Most had never met the victim, which was easy to believe, given that the man had just moved to Carolina Arbors. The poker players never left their table, perhaps not wanting to leave their stack of chips unattended. After the forensic team leader gave Travis his general assessment, the detective was ready to address the men in the conference room…’
This is a very entertaining and engrossing murder mystery made all the more special because of the creative approach. Hopefully this technique of writing will continue through the series. Recommended.
North Carolina author Hugo Uyttenhove earned his PhD in System Science from Binghamton University. He obviously loves art and history and holds a particular passion for Flemish and Dutch paintings. His novels to date are GRAND LARCENY: THE HEIST OF THE FLEMISH PRIMITIVES, REMBRANDT REDUX: Tom Arden Book 1 (both of which have become screenplays), THE DA VINCI CLOTH (Tom Arden Book 2), MUD CAKE FOR BREAKFAST, Book 1 of A Carolina Arbors Murder Series, NO TACOS FOR LUNCH Book 2 of that series, and now Book 3 - SLOPPY JOE FOR DINNER.
This time ‘round Hugo offers his talent along with ‘the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths, and he informs us of this decision in a brief Note that opens the book: ’This book is the third collaboration between members of the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths Book Club (T.A. Sleuths) at Carolina Arbors, a Del Webb Community in Durham, North Carolina. Having read thousands of murder mystery books combined, members undertake another effort in contributing to another book in The Carolina Arbors Murder Mystery series. Again, the story takes place in their community and provides authenticity of the environment. They introduce characters who may or may not be witnesses to the crime at hand. Story development and sewing all the parts together are the tasks of the principal author. It is up to Detective T.A. Vinder to solve the case, assisted by Officer Ramón Acosta of the Durham Police Department. As usual, the amateur sleuths of the Thursday Afternoon Sleuths Book Clun participate in resolving any unanswered questions.’
The unique approach to writing works very well indeed. The manner in which Hugo interplays with the other ‘authors’ is contagiously entertaining and the quality of writing, though varying from input to input, is surprisingly strong. This makes us wonder about the background of these nascent authors!
A bit excerpt whets the imagination: ‘Travis figured that processing thirty people in about an hour had been a record. Most had never met the victim, which was easy to believe, given that the man had just moved to Carolina Arbors. The poker players never left their table, perhaps not wanting to leave their stack of chips unattended. After the forensic team leader gave Travis his general assessment, the detective was ready to address the men in the conference room…’
This is a very entertaining and engrossing murder mystery made all the more special because of the creative approach. Hopefully this technique of writing will continue through the series. Recommended.
December 30, 2025
I have not read too many murder mystery type stories. This one held my interest, although I will say, I'm not sure it wowed me. I don't know if I'm supposed to be confused or if I'm supposed to speculate. I don't really feel this book allowed for much speculation because so much happens elsewhere with an interweaving backstory. I liked the book and the concept of collaboration of other writers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews